Pro-Seminar in Japanese Studies

This course will examine the study of and writing about Japan by social scientists and journalists.  It will survey disciplinary perspectives on Japanese studies from Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, and Business Administration.  It will also study the media in Japan, andnews coverage of Japan by the foreign media.  It will include at least one session on the March 2011 earthquake and its aftermath.  Given the focus on the social sciences and journalism, it will cover field research techniques appropriate in these fields, especially interviews and ethnographic research.  We will invite several outside specialists to the seminar over the course of the semester.  Graduate students from any department are encouraged to participate.